Lovie Smith defends his Philosophy

Former Bear Player says the Bears system is Obsolete

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Lovie Smith is sticking by his philosophy despite being on the hotseat in 2010

The Bears called a press conference to announce the firing of Ron Turner as Offensive coordinator and most of his staff (except WR Coach Darryl Drake & RB Coach Tim Spencer). In the process they "announced" Lovie Smith would return next year. The fact they needed to announce a coach under contract was returning was the first hint of the hot seat Lovie sat on this season.

Bears team president Ted Phillips said his low point was the Cincinnati loss, but then the season got progressively worse and he began evaluating both General Manager Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith. Way before those final two wins.

So when Lovie Smith took the podium instead of talking about Ron Turner and the failings of the offense, he faced a firing squad of questions about the failings of his defense. HIS defense since he was defensive coordinator.

While he interviews potential offensive coordinators, Smith is keeping an open mind on schemes, as long as it is a balanced offense. But when it comes to defense. He's sticking with his Cover-2.

"You want someone with a similar philosophy. We defend our defense a lot as far as the scheme. A lot is being placed on the scheme, the scheme. There is not that much difference between the scheme. I heard our scheme again, the cover-two scheme, every team in the league plays cover-two. We’re basically all playing the same thing, we talk about it a different way. It’s gap control, that’s what defense is, it’s gap control. There are only so many coverages you can play, but the person that is coming in, I would like for him to have some of the similar beliefs that I have.”

Smith continues to believe the failings of a 17Th ranked defense was about execution. Still there is a problem. A Tampa 2 must stop the run first, and the Bears finished 23rd against the run.

As one former Bears defender under Lovie Smith said, "their defense is obsolete". And his current team proved so by demolishing the Bears in their meeting this season.

"Tampa 2 works if you have Pro Bowlers" he said. That's PRO BOWLERS with an "s". Not just one Pro Bowler as in Lance Briggs.

He continued, "it's not scheme based" explaining, the Bears basic defensive philosophy relies on the stud athletic players they no longer have. Tommie Harris at the 3-technique. Brian Urlacher Pro Bowl Middle Linebacker (when?), and shut down corner backs -- eh, the Bears have NEVER had that.

"Tampa 2 is Tampa 2, just like a bunk bed is a bunk bed. You can change the sheets and blankets. It is what it is."

Thus, every team can scheme the Bears because it isn't about the scheme changing, its about players making plays. And the Bears just don't have enough PLAYMAKERS on defense.

When Smith was pressed on why he is so stubborn in sticking with his defensive scheme at the press conference, he got defensive.

“I think you have to stay with what you believe on how you want to win football games. That’s what we are going to do. It’s not like I am coming up here for the first time saying, hey, we have been in the position where we have won with the things we believe in, so why can’t we get better? We can.”

The Bears need Tommie Harris to return to form, they need Brian Urlacher to be a Pro Bowler again. They need some shutdown corners.

Lovie Smith needs them next year to save his job, because he's not changing his philosophy.

“Sometimes, you know what the answer is? You didn’t have a good year. It’s as simple as that, lot of reasons why we weren’t successful on third down. The rush wasn’t as good as it needs to be at times. We didn’t win some one-on-one battles. Our coverage wasn’t as good. I wish I had called some different things. But these are things that we can correct. We don’t need a total overhaul with what we believe.”